This P-40 was built as a Kittyhawk I for the RAF. Having been purchased by the British Purchasing
Commission she did not fall under any Lend-Lease agreement, and therefore did not receive a US Army
serial number. She was given the RAF serial AK899 but was handed over to Canada and received
the RCAF serial 1051. All I currently know of her wartime service is that she served with 111 Sqn.

After the war many RCAF aircraft were auctioned off, including a number of Kittyhawks. This particular
ship is one of many that went to Fred Dyson of Seattle, Washington and she spent some time at Boeing Field
before being purchased by Tony Dire of Everett, Washington. AK899 spent many years on the roof of a gas
station before being shuffled around among several owners.

Sadly, in 2009, this Hawk was lost along with her owner/operator, Bob Baranaskas.

Blue Skies and Bright Stars, Bob...

AK899 was serving as a billboard on the roof of a 'Flying A' service station
in Everett, Washington when Fred Johnson snapped this photo in August of 1965.